The King of Mardi Gras!

We figured since Ben slept through most of Mardi Gras this year, we would revisit it with a trip to Mardi Gras World last weekend in New Orleans. We dressed Ben as a Mardi Gras prince and played with some of the fun props. We saw some of the floats from the parades last year and got a preview of some of the floats for next year.

But, alas, Mardi Gras got the better of Ben again, and he was asleep before we left.

Ben's First Trip to the ER

Well, now that we have our inaugural visit out of the way...Ben made an appearance at the Toledo Peds ER last night. We ended up deciding to go to the ER when Ben woke up around 9:30 last night with a strange cry, a fever and labored breathing. The doctors and nurses at Toledo were very good and we were seen quickly. Ben was a very sad little boy. He had to get a chest x-ray (which was honestly the most tramatic thing for me). Ben wasn't a huge fan of the rectal thermometer (can you blame him?!) But not long after the chest x-ray, he started to get better. The nurse gave him Motrin when we got there, and that was bringing the fever down. Ben was diagnosed with a virus that had caused the fever. And to cope with the fever, Ben was basically panting like a dog which to me, looked like labored, shallow breathing. But, in the end, we left the hospital around midnight with Ben happy and playing and talking again. He and I stayed home today to make sure he was fully recovered, which he appears to be. These pictures were taken after he started to perk up. We thought we should capture the first (of presumed many based on family history) ER visits.

This Picture Just Cracks Me UP

The Official Wolny First Halloween Pumpkin

Today Ben got his very first pumpkin! Grandma Lee came up and painted it just like she painted Daddy's first pumpkin! It was a very impressive recreation. And then we took pictures for a scrapbook page. The first two pictures are of Adam, 28 years ago...and the rest are the legacy

McQueen's Festival

We went over to the McQueen's Apple Festival with Grandma Lee today. Ben was kind of tired (see second picture, which kind of makes me laugh). But we still got some smiles out of him.

Zoom Zoom Zoom

After a brief break to work on language/vocalizing skills, Ben is back onto refining his gross motor skills and cruising all over the place. He is getting very good at walking around the coffee table and loves to push his bus thingy around the living room.

Oohhh, What's In Here??

Yes, Ben has definitely discovered cupboards. Over the course of a few days he has gone from 'Oh, what's this thing that opens and closes' to 'Oh, listen to it bang' to 'Oh, there's stuff in here!'. We are installing the locks this week. Haha, can't wait to see his face once he figures out he can't open the cupboards anymore! Poor Ben...it's just one big DE-NIDED after another....

A Walk at Side Cut

They Dont' Call Them Elk (as in deer) Hounds for Nothing

A deer crossed our path at Side Cut, and stayed on it for a long time, much to Monster's frustration. And then, after we finally moved past the deer, we say another elkhound at the park!!

The Cutest Hat!

We found this hat at The Children's Place. I was good, and refrained from buying it, but it was just so darn cute!

First Attempt at 8 Month Pictures

Our first attempt at 8 month pictures. He wasn't really in the mood and wouldn't sit still very long. We'll try again tomorrow...

Happy Birthday, Grandma B!

Grandma B came for a visit this weekend. We got to see almost all of mommy's aunts and uncles and cousin Rachel! It was a fun visit and we'll get to see her again in a few weeks when we go to New Orleans!

Climbing to New Heights

So, somehow, Ben just knows how to climb steps. And he's fast at it, too. Before I had the gate up, he was up 3 steps in honestly 10 seconds.

And then DE-NIED! Haha!